delicious oaxacan food, very hard to find in the bay area. i dont live very close but will be coming back

I can't remember the last time I ate somewhere where everything was really good and the service was great. My fiancé and I came with our dog and were seated in their patio. The patio is covered and there's a pathway leading to it from the parking lot which is helpful if you have a dog with you. The server immediately offered to bring us some water for our dog in a to-go container. The table already had a water carafe and clean glasses. We ordered our coke zeros, the antojito platter, ceviche, two mole negros and lechecilla for dessert. The ceviche was fresh and the tostadas were crispy. We marveled at all that came with the antojito platter. It came with taquitos, memelitas, molote, quesadilla with epazote and mushroom, chapulines, some queso fresco and a small serving of guacamole, salsa and pickled red onions. Everything was delicious. I even worked up the courage to have a chapulin and it actually tasted good! Perfect portions to share and still feel a bit full off of it. I've had mole negro before and each time was forgettable. When we tasted our mole negro, we immediately knew that what we were having was legit. So many complex flavors coming together beautifully. We already stuffed ourselves with the appetizers, so we had to take the rest to go which pained us because it was so good. We wanted to finish it right then and there because it was warm and tasty. It was still great the next day as leftovers. The dish came with big tortillas and some rice which had some slight flavor to it. I told my fiancé that if all this food was this good, we couldn't leave without trying their dessert. We got the lechecilla. It tasted like a Mexican chocolate panna cottage but creamier since panna cotta uses gelatin. It came with strawberries, whipped cream and I think a dusting of chocolate or cinnamon. We devoured it quickly. Servers were attentive and very patient. Like I said, we brought our dog with us. We kept having to readjust her so she wasn't laying out in the servers' way (she's a German Shepherd and Husky) but she still decided to lay down in their path numerous times (we tried!) and even then the servers were very kind. They checked on us frequently too. We know we will definitely be back. read more

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Oaxacan cuisine has become my favorite type of Mexican food so whenever I see an Oaxacan restaurant, I want to try it out.  Was looking for a dinner spot after a day in Santa Cruz and decided on Copal.  I tried to make a reservation but for some reason it kept saying nothing is available even though I chose an available time.  It finally worked right when we pulled into the lot and good thing too as the walk in line was quite long.   We ordered an Azucena and horchata Aqua Fresca, I liked the horchata more.  I was excited for the memelitas as I fell in love with it when I had it for the first time in San Diego, but these were too dry and tasted nothing like the ones I had previously.  The Molotes were pretty solid although the stuffed ones at Taqueria El Zocalo in Oakland were better.  We tried the Tlayuda since it was listed as a Oaxacan specialty and it was the size of a pizza so definitely enough for two.  We did overorder since we like trying new things, although I was not adventurous enough to try the Chapulines grasshoppers ordered. read more

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3% fee for using a credit card. - 5/5: The mole negro sauce is fantastic. I have had it with the chicken and ribs. The flavor is complex and multi-layered. You can buy the mole negro sauce for take-home: $6 for 6 oz - 5/5: The Oaxacaloha cocktail is great, and holds up to ice melt. rums, curacao, orgeat, juices, lime. read more

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We eat A LOT of Mexican food in the Sacramento area. This place was BOMB. The food is absolutely amazing. It's fresh, clean, flavorful, and has roots in Oaxaca, Mexico. I wish we had one in Sacramento! read more

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Came in on a rainy Santa Cruz night and they were still offering HH - got a couple of cocktails, started with guac chips (guac was really good). Taquitos' shell was a little hard, short rib mole was amazing and the quesadilla was pretty good. Flan was the star! Noticed that there's water dripping from the ceiling that dropped on my shoulder and we informed our server and they said they knew. The thing is why would they seat us where there is a leak from the ceiling? There was also already small water puddles forming. Mind you there were plenty of other tables open. Service was friendly so that helped. Also while dining, we saw something crawling on the ground and we informed our server as well. My husband stepped on it (since it was moving fast on the floor and not sure what it was exactly) and showed it to our server. Long story short, they took off 10% of our bill, but not sure if we will pay another stop, after all, it's quite a drive. read more

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Fresh and flavorful food. Very kind, friendly, and quick service. Ambiance was clean and colorful. Would return read more

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I had me some really good enchiladas. The mole was dankopotamus. Twas quite a vibe indeed.

One of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz. I highly recommend the antojito platter, it lets you try a variety of different oaxacan small bites. The moles are delicious and complex, if it's your first time to the restaurant they provide a sampler to help to you choose with kind you want. There are more than five you can choose from. They also have a wide variety of mezcals that you can try with their mezcal flights. read more

Came here as part of a party of seven. As previous Yelpers have noted, there is a great selection for vegetarians here. They offer both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. My friend had the NA smoke drink and it was delicious. Starts off smelling and tasting smoky, but ends rather smooth and sweet. Great balance. Make sure to check the menu online ahead of time. I wanted to order the Oaxaca salad and when I checked the in-person menu, I couldn't find it in the section I thought it would be in. When I asked the server, he was able to show me where it actually was on the menu. If you see something online that you like but don't see it in person, don't hesitate to ask your server and they'll help you navigate. read more

Copal - Cute vessel the guac is served in - Mexican Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

First time coming to Copal, I have to say the food was amazing great flavors and a variety of selections of food, great service and great recommendations since it was my first time friendly and attentive customer service, Family ambiance they have inside and outside seating I love the decor everything was great. read more

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A beautiful resturant with indoor and outdoor covered patio! They give you free chips and salsa. Super friendly service. Tried the mole negro and it was a very fair portion with a chicken thigh and leg with rice and 2 corn tortillas. The chicken was cooked very well, falling off the bone and super easy to eat! read more

Copal - Mole Negro (veg option) - Mexican Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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The food was really good, with generous serving sizes. The mole taster was essential so make sure to ask about it for your first visit. I got a mole dish which was delicious and I went home with leftovers. Another person at my table got the tacos and was very happy with those as well. The menu was a good size-- not too big or too small IMO. The drinks menu included cocktail, low alcohol cocktails, and mocktails which I appreciated. The service was really good, our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable with really good timing. Couldn't ask for more. The atmosphere was pleasant but was the weakest area and is the only reason I considered 4-stars. The decor is nice, but it was too loud. We specifically asked for a quiet spot and it was still too loud to comfortably converse. I heard from a friend that it's quieter outside, so I'll give that a try in the future, but I would hesitate to recommend Copal to someone with hearing difficulties. There is some parking out back but not a ton, I can easily imagine it filling up, so be prepared to park around the corner and walk if necessary. read more

This is an Oaxaca restaurant located in Santa Cruz. The vibes feels mid-American however the menu looks Mexicanish. We ordered guac, taco and a dish that looks like nacho. However the guac tastes so salty and spicy that's not kid-friendly at all. The waitress confirms that the taste shouldn't be different than other Mexican restaurants except the citrus flavor. So she offered to make up by adding a plain avocado. We accepted. The other foods are ok, the shrimp taco is fresh and juicy. However this experience turns out surprising as we found the plain makeup avocado do was charged $8... we didn't ask for that and only accepted as a make up. And now we need to pay for the mistake on the taste as well as something we didn't initially want that much.. we feel tricked and also unsatisfied with the food. Probably won't come as there are better Mexican restaurants that don't do such things. Thanks. read more

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Delicious food and ample portions! Since I have a nut allergy, the mole was not on the list for me, but everything I got was hearty and tasty. The margarita was also refreshing. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Always a favorite spot to dine when in Santa Cruz. Arrived early and had a beverage at the bar while working for our table. The house marg did not disappoint! Lovely and lively night as graduation is in full swing at UCSC We dined on Mole Negro (20/10) read more

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I was not expecting to find a restaurant with authentic food from Oaxaca in Santa Cruz! The presentation was absolutely stunning. There are a lot of different mole options, so it may be limiting in that aspect for some. I was going to try to Chile rellenos, but I ultimately decided on the mole negra-- delicious! I'm glad I branched out. I was not a fan of the nopales. The Michaela I got was good but nothing notable. Service is very friendly. A must try in my opinion. read more

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*Vegetarian Foodie Review* Celebrated my husband's new job offer here with family. Ambiance was really great, perfect for special occasions, but service was okayish. Lots of Vegan and Vegetarian options. Complimentary chips and salsa were yum, but the salsa portion was very less. We had to ask multiple times for more salsa, signature sauces, also basic utensils like straws and forks. Our host was distracted and inattentive most of the time. Before ordering, we asked our server about the mole dishes as we had never tried them before. She kindly offered us small portions of the Mole Negro and Mole Coloradito sauces to try out before ordering. The Mole Negro had a strong chocolate flavor, reminiscent of cocoa, with a rich and complex taste and texture. However, it was too intense for my liking. The Mole Coloradito, on the other hand, was a subtler version, with the tomatoes helping to balance out the flavor. If you are not fond of sweet flavors in your main dishes, you might want to avoid the mole options. As a mole newbie, I feel it is acquired taste - you will most likely not love it on the first try! Here's what we ordered: - Tropicana (non-alcoholic drink): unique and tasty. My 4 year old finished it all. I hardly had a sip. - Mole Coloradito (Vegan): rich, complex flavor, but too strong for my liking - Mexican Coke: a new favorite! - Guacamole with chips (vegan): ABSOLUTE FAVE! 5/5, huge portion, and delicious - Kids Burrito: disappointing, too big and tough for my 4 year old to eat Highlights: - Our server was knowledgeable and helped us navigate the menu, especially with the mole dishes. - This restaurant offers rice cooked in vegetarian broth. Most of the Mexican restaurants have rice cooked in non-veg broth. Lowlights: - Expensive - Inattentive service - Some dishes were a miss Overall, a decent experience, but not without its flaws. Maybe we will try again to explore more of the menu. read more

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Copal is a great restaurant. I have been here many times and I can say everything on their menu is outstanding. Top order would be Mole Verde chicken. The drinks are outstanding, staff is always nice, and a great place to enjoy dinner inside or on their outdoor patio. read more

Four stars for the food, parking lot and other misc drops it down to 3.5 Let's get this out of the way: the parking lot needs a resurfacing, the spots are tight, and there simply aren't enough places to park. Don't park in Taqueria Vallarta next door because they tow. In full disclosure, I've only ever eaten/drunk in the bar -- somehow never made it into the restaurant itself despite multiple visits. There can be a long wait for a table and I prefer the bar anyway. On to the food, which is excellent: Taquitos: freshly fried, tasty and moist, not like the fast food crap you are as a kid. Filled with of pork, chicken, or potato - you can't go wrong. On special at happy hour. Memelitas: sort of like a sopa but not as thick. Topped with black bean paste and cheese -- add protein if you want. Decent but not craveworthy. Quesadillas: Wut? Unexpectedly outstanding. Maybe because I added chorizo. Generously sized and filled. The flavors hit. And surprise! The side of beans were also excellent. Definitely get this again. And again. Moles: Negro - they claim 30 ingredients slow roasted for three days. Its tastes rich and a little less spicy than some variants. Verde - not your garden variety green sauce but rather a subtle mix of herbs with a jalapeño kick. Strong. Amarillo - a pleasant surprise with subtle overtones of chiles. Many of the bar drinks are premade and come out a tap. Tasty but... bartenders use a ton of ice so you're get a half pour. Once I asked for no ice and got a custom drink served in an old style 4 oz glass. Bartenders seem happy and engage in banter with the guests. Copal is the place to come if you want authentic well crafted Mexican food and strong drinks read more

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Food was amazing, service was amazing and loved the vibe of the spot. Ordered the Oaxacan Nachos with Tinga, and taquitos with 2 cocktails. Great meal! read more

Copal - Taquitos (gf / veg option) Nachos con Mole Negro (veg option) y tinga - Mexican Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Beautiful food from Oxcaca comfortable indoor and outdoor seating with a full bar. Our waitress made sure to steer us toward the most popular items for customers which is really helpful if you're not familiar with the regional food. Our food came right after we order and drinks and chips makes it our new Santa Cruz favorite. read more

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The best authentic Oaxacan food! This restaurant is a gem! We dinned here last night and most likely will go tonight. We waited ten minutes to get a table but there is some seating outside and if you wanted could get a drink while you wait. There was a Margarita, Monday special. Two tacos and a margarita, that's what I ordered and it was plenty of food. Portions are good. The margaritas are not from a mix and fantastic Our waiter was attentive. The place is clean and comfortable. I highly recommend this restaurant for a great dinner experience. read more

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One of my top 5 favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz! Delicious food, high end cocktails, and good service. The parking situation is rough since there are only around 10 spots dedicated to the restaurant. Also, they changed up the mezcal used in their Mezcal Margarita which is disappointing because it isn't as smokey as it used to be. Our server was so nice to have the cocktail remade with a more smokey mezcal which made it much better. The inside has a cool aesthetic which makes it unique and fun. My go to dishes are the Enchiladas de Mole Rojo and the Tlayuda. read more

Copal - Enchiladas de Mole Rojo - Mexican Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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I came here with my family as a party of 5 on Saturday and we had a fantastic experience and great service. I have wanted to stop in and try Copal for at least a few years, and my only regret is that I waited so long to go here. Everyone in my party thought the food was very unique, artfully prepared, and most importantly delicious! The parking lot is fairly small, but the restaurant itself is a good size, was clean, and had a welcoming atmosphere. I can't drink alcohol, but there was a very nice selection of cocktails, and they had a handful of mocktails available as well which I really appreciated. I ordered the Tropicana mocktail, and it was really tasty and refreshing. For food, everyone at the table ordered something different, so I feel like we got a really good sampling of their menu. I had the Sopa de Albondigas and it tasted incredible! Everyone loved what they ordered, and we all loved the chips and salsa as well. We will absolutely be back again, and I would highly recommend giving them a try. If (like me) you have driven by a bunch of times and been curious to try it please do yourself a favor and satisfy your curiosity. I promise you won't be disappointed! read more

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A bit conflicted as I write this as I wanted to fall in love with Copal. I loved the idea of a restaurant with mole highlighted all of the menu. Unfortunately, it fell short in a few places which made it, all in all, just okay. Dined here as a party for two on a Thursday night. The place was not too busy, and there was one waiter for indoor and outdoor seating. We chose a table for two outside under the heater. It was perfectly warm and comfortable on a mild winter evening. Both inside and outside were nice/cute/well decorated. When our food arrived, we quickly realized the tables were not quite the right side. I'm short but my friend is taller and we both struggled to move our arms and fit the food, plus drinks, plus glass water bottle, plus water cups (you catch my drift) on the table. Plus, the table was wobbly. We didn't bother asking to move because when we arrived, we were told that indoor seating was full (except for bar) and the other tables in the back were on reserve. It was also a bit challenging to figure out where to place our purses given that the chairs were round back (kinda like metal folding chair style) so the bags kept sliding down. We were attended to promptly and I can say over all service was good. I like that it's not a QR code where you never see the staff. There's actually a human experience and exchange. On to the food...the complimentary salsa left something to be desired (so I ended up ordering an $11 guacamole to scratch the itch). It looked and tasted like a Pace picante jarred salsa, and that was disappointing. Empanada en mole Amarillo: Flavor wise this was on point once we figured out the hack. The dish was on top of a light bed of mole sauce so initially was dry. We end up using our hands to eat it and rubbing it all around the mole sauce and that's when it came together. Also worth noting, don't expect an empanada. It's more like a cheese-less quesadilla. I would highly recommend that Copal serve the dish with much more mole sauce to bring the flavors together nicely. Mole Negro (pollo and puerco): they did end up making a mistake on our order and instead of giving us two meats had only given us one; they were so kind and gracious about this and brought out an entire second plate of mole. Their serving sizes are pretty decent. The pollo (chicken plate) had about three drumsticks. The puerco seemed to be a little less hearty tho and not my preferred meat choice. Overall, I enjoyed the flavor of this dish, and would choose the chicken over the pork. However, I did notice that there was a slight flavor of burnt sugar that kept coming through the dish. Also, did I mention they serve the mole with FRESH HOT HOMEMADE CORN TORTILLAS. These were excellent For dessert...again, conflicted. We tried the churros and the flan, but I really wish there was a dish that brought together the churros, flan, and plantains. Because I wasn't going to order three desserts for the two of us, we were not able to try the plantains out, and that was a bummer. The churros were served with a chocolate sauce, which seemed unnecessary. The churros themselves were incredibly delicious, but could have used a caramel or vanilla ice cream, and maybe a dulce de Leche dipping sauce instead of chocolate. The flan was just ok (I like mine wetter with the sugar juices from caramelization process). I do hope that Copal can make some minor modifications to take them from "okay" to "oh my gawsh wow". One thing I wish they offered was an ability to pick from the different mole. For example, It would be great to be able to pick my protein and my mole sauce. I would have selected an entire plate of pollo with mole rojo, for example. However the mole rojo only comes prepared as enchiladas. I love the menu, and generally enjoyed the flavors. I would go back and try the Mole Rojo Enchiladas. read more

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Very cute restaurant but, the food was just okay. They have a good mole sauce but my bf food did come out cold. He didn't feel like sending it back. I didn't care for the cocktails. Keep it simple if you come to this restaurant. read more

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Such an incredible and unique dining experience I've never had such authentic Mexican food before and I absolutely loved it! I recommend getting the mole negro in order to have a real first time experience with the dish if you've never had it. I went with the verde because I loveeee it so much. So flavorful worth every penny! read more

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First time trying mole and I loved the variety of flavors and options they offered. We opted for the mole verde with chicken as well as a quesadilla with the tasajo. Both had decent flavor profiles but to be honest, both felt lacking in something. It was overall just okay. The drinks on the other hand were excellent and definitely did their job! No complaints on that end. I've seen other reviews say the restaurant is overly loud but I thought it was at a good socializing volume and service was quick and friendly. read more

Copal - Mexican Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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The decor inside the restaurant was beautiful with Mexican paper cutouts and wood cravings of the same. Full bar and outdoor dining area. The hostess was friendly and explain the "rabbit" like logo, which by the way it's not a rabbit but a mystical creature. We sit outside and were greeted with room temperature water, chips and salsa. We ordered the mixed platter. All the items were delicious. There were little fried grasshopper "chapulines" which I tried. It tasted like BBQ favorited chips. For dessert we had churro. It came with melted chocolate and condenses milk for dipping. I would definitely visit again. read more

One word: mole. The mole here is out of this world!! I've come to Copal twice now, typically after an early afternoon hanging out with the redwoods by Henry Cowell State Park. That somehow best translates to coming to Copal right as they are ramping up their happy hour menu :) First time I came here, we got some drinks, molotes, and tried out the mole negro; most of my table got it with puerco and I got it with pollo. I had such a great experience and came home with some leftovers since the portions are quite generous. Second time, we took full advantage of the happy hour foods: nopales, potato taquitos, nachos oaxaqueños, memelitas, and ceviche. Everything was basically a hit and we had to order a second nachos because it was so good; mole negro with tortilla chips are downright dangerously good. We also got mole coloradito and a mole amarillo to try out and both were so good, so tasty, so unique! Finished the meal off with some platanos fritos which were also delightful. We left very full and with some leftovers to munch on afterwards. A huge plus for Copal and Oaxacan food (in general), they are restrictive diet friendly. I usually come with folks who are gluten intolerant and I recently came with someone who is vegetarian and gluten intolerant. There were so many options to choose from including the mole amarillo and platanos fritos which is vegetarian and gluten free. Even the nachos are vegetarian friendly without any additional meats! It is a fairly small restaurant with a patio and it can be kinda chilly in this part of Santa Cruz, right off Hwy 1 / Mission St. Sometimes there's a wait and it makes sense to make a reservation during busier hours for that reason. I've always walked in due to my random hours post-redwoods so I've had some luck but would recommend getting a reservation if you have dinner plans! read more

Everything about Copal restaurant was excellent! From the hostess desk to the bartenders and the outside seating, the servers greeted us and treated us well. Service was on point. Servers were attentive and recommended food items when we asked about different sauces and entrees. The best part was that we enjoyed all the dishes and drinks and left feeling special and appreciated. We will definitely go back for different dishes we haven't tried yet. Drinks were amazing and creative also! read more

Great cozy vibes! Came for happy hour (offered daily) and sat at the cute patio. We tried the tostadas and sampler platter with beers -- everything was delicious! The fun highlight was the chapulines in the sampler platter, which I highly recommend if you're brave! By the time we left it was packed so you know it's a great place. I'm definitely coming back! read more

Copal - Antojito Platter - Mexican Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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Very modern and quaint little Oaxacan restaurant. Staff was attentive and the food was authentic. The Mole Negro was complex and earthy, too many flavors to even describe. It was served with I presume a boiled chicken quarter, it was well cooked and the flavor of the chicken didn't detract from the richness of the mole. The tyluda was also a great dish. Larger than life with perfectly crisped tortilla. The bean paste was perfectly portioned for the monster dish. The toppings were fresh and beef and pork were tender and grilled to perfection. Highly recommended. read more

Excellent restaurant with high-quality food and great service. The mole dish I ordered was very good and so were our appetizers. Unfortunately, the tlayuda was not great, served with two flaps of tough meat that would've benefited from more seasoning and being shredded. If going, I would stick with mole and other complex dishes. Also a great place for Mezcal if that's your thing. read more

The food is fine, but good luck getting everything you pay for. Out of an order for 2 kids and adult, they forgot 4 items. A trip back got 2 of the items, but they had ran out of one, and still didn't provide the fourth. In the first place, the website order didn't work, and I had to do it over with a phone order. I was asked for tips for a pickup order in both occasions. Also the online ordering website is a mess. You have to scroll past all the cocktails to find the second set of entree listings, that have a description. With so much good Latin American food in Santa Cruz, I don't see the point of this place unless they can hire someone to organize them, and ditch the website for DoorDash and eat the fees, or redo it. read more

Everything about this place is excellent from the moment I walked in the door and was greeted by the host to being seated immediately and having a waiter take my order. The happy hour menu is offered 2:30 pm - 5 pm daily. A bowl full of tortilla chips with a light tomato and onion salsa was complementary. I ordered the pork tamal en hoja de plantano plate. It's also served as an appetizer on the happy menu ($8). The tamale is topped with a creamy dark mole sauce (yum), and a side of cactus pico de gallo salsa and refried black beans. A dollop of cream on the plate adds a nice flavor. Their tortillas and masa are handmade here, so naturally I asked for two corn tortillas. Anton couldn't have delivered better service. One can tell he has extensive experience in the hospitality business. He's not only courteous, but he anticipates additional requests. I'll be back again and again. read more

Copal - Nopales with cactus, radish, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. - Mexican Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Always love to hit up Copal for their Tlayuda and margs! Everything I've tried on the menu is great. Their black beans are so yummy and the mole is so delicious! Ask your server for the complimentary sampler to find your favorite! Service has always been efficient and friendly. Love the outdoor patio area year round. read more

I was very impressed with this place! Tried the appetizer platter, mole sampler, and a few drinks. Everything was super fresh and delicious... a few favorites: the Tokyo Grift drink, the masa fritters, and the the mole amarillo was an expected hit! The mole sampler isn't specified on the menu but I definitely recommend it to try and decide what entree you want, they're all very different! Highly recommend the negro or amarillo mole. Service was prompt and ambient, I never waited very long for anything. I sat on the patio, which honestly I would not recommend because of road noise. The inside dining room is better, or the bar. read more

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Copal is amazing. I love the delightful, colorful, fresh, and tasty food from Copal. The service is amazing as the server is friendly and polite. The restaurant offers traditional and delicious meals. Oxaca moles are amazingly tasty and perfectly cooked. Highly recommended it. The decor and seatings are great. The ambience is fun with great vibes. Highly recommended it to everyone. read more

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